CHOOKS-TO-GO will be handling the basketball operations of the Maharlika Pilipinas Basketball League (MPBL) moving forward.
The development came to be after the league’s founder, Sen. Manny Pacquiao, gave the reins to Chooks-to-Go and its president, Ronald Mascariñas.
“I am elated to have this new partnership given that Chooks-to-Go is a very organized organization especially in basketball,” said Pacquiao.
“I saw the world-class event of their one-day invitational league in San Fernando and I was impressed,” he said about the Chooks-to-Go Pilipinas 3×3 Invitational tournament the league held on Oct. 20 in San Fernando, Pampanga.
“They are the only group in partnership with FIBA 3×3 in the country. With that, they basically know what they are doing… I am thankful to Kuya Ronald and I can only entrust the MPBL to Chooks-to-Go.”
In December 2019, Chooks-to-Go and the MPBL signed a five-year deal that saw the country’s largest roasted chicken retail business become the league’s title sponsor.
“Being a presidential candidate is no easy task and we understand the busy schedule of the senator,” said Mascariñas. “That is why we accepted the gargantuan responsibility to take over the full basketball operations of the MPBL. We will work hand in hand with Commissioner Kenneth [Duremdes] in this endeavor.”
The league has plans to stage an invitational competition before the year ends. Chooks-to-Go is also planning to integrate its 3×3 basketball program with the MPBL.
In 2017, Pacquiao founded the MPBL as he saw the country’s need to have a regional men’s semi-professional basketball league. The league has held three tournaments, the Rajah, Datu and Lakan tournaments.
This new development will not change the commitment of Chooks-to-Go in supporting regional professional leagues Pilipinas Vismin Super Cup and National Basketball League-Pilipinas as the company believes that these leagues are a step to level the playing field for players in the countryside to have the same opportunities in basketball as a source of livelihood.